Fuller ball.



P. MUELLER.

FULLER BALL. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24, 19:6.

LWWYW; Patented Apr. 23, 1918.

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the life of the ball materia PHILIP MUELLER, 0F DECATUR, ILLINOIS.

FULLER BALL Specification of Letters Patent. Payment- 11 Apr, 23, 11%;

Application filed March 24, 1916. Serial No. 86,506.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, PHILIP MUELLER, a

citizen of the United States, residin at Decatur, in the county of Macon and tate of Illinois, have invented new and useful lmprovements in Fuller Balls, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to Fuller balls, and has as its objects to retain the initial resiliency and normal shape of the ball, to prevent deterioration and permanent distortion thereof, and generall to increase the efiiciency and prolong the life of the Fuller ball. I

When Fuller balls having no protecting jacket or shell are used, the elastic or rubber body portion becomes permanently distorted in shape due to continued pressure upon the same, the surface of the ball at the valve seat end of the same becomes uneven which results in undue leakage, and the ball generally will give away or break down under the strain to which it is almost continually subjected. It has been proposed to place a rigid or non-expansible metal shell or jacket about'the elastic ball, but it has been found that the portion of the ball within the shell cannot expand radially to any appreciable extent, and, therefore, the valve seat end or exposed portion of the ball must take up the entire strain and is forced to spread outwardly over the edge of the metal jacket or shell, with the result that the edges of the ball are soon cut and the seating surface thereof is greatly inn paired.

I overcome the above and other disadvantages of Fuller balls heretofore used by encircling or incasing the Fuller ball within a shell or jacket, which jacket is slit adjacent the valve seat end of the elastic or rubber body permitting the rubber to be compressed to a eater distance throughout the length of the ball, aiding the ball to assume its normal shape after the ball is moved from the valve seathand prolonging The above and other objects of my invention are obtained by the structure described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying draw1ngs,.

it being understood, however, that the pres- .ent embodiment of my invention is by way of illustration, and that I do not wish to limit myself. to

the particular construction shown. 1

Referring to the drawings,-

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through a Fuller cock embodying my invention, the valve being closed.

' Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the shank portion of the cock shown in Fig. 1, the Fuller ball being shown in elevation and the valve being open.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the several parts of which my improved Fuller ball is constructed, the same being shown in disassembled relation.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals represent like parts in the several views, 10 designates the body portion of the Fuller cock which may be of any suitable construction, the particular embodiment shown in the drawings being by way of illustration only. The Fuller cock, as is usual, is provided with an eccentric stem 11 passing through the cap 12 and having a handle 13 on its outer end for operating the valve. Secured by means 'of screwthreads to the inlet of the cock is a tail piece 14 in which the Fuller ball 15 reciprocates, the ball being carried by the valve stem 16 connected at its forward end to the crank end of the eccentric stem 11, as is usual.

In accordance with my inventionthe Fuller ball 15, which may be substantially in the form of a cylinder as shown, is encircled by a jacket or casing 17 which, in the present instance, comprises a cylindrical member open at both of its ends, the edge of one of the ends being crimped inwardly to rovide an internal bead or shoulder 24 wh1ch operates as a stop to prevent the split casing 17 from being pushed too far forward upon the Fuller ball 15. The casing 17 is constructed of any suitable metal having the required resiliency, and the casing 17 together with the washer 18 forms what may be termed a shell which entirely incloses one end of the ball. The end of the casing 17 terminates somewhat short of the valve seat end of the cylindrical rubber body 15 and is slitted through a ortion of its length as at 19, so as to provi e a plurality of spring fingers or sections 20. The casing 17 is retained in place on the ball 15 due to the frictional engagement therebetween and the resiliency of spring sections 20. In the present instance, I have shown the casing 17 as having six slots and a corresponding number of spring sections, but it is, of course,

' or abutment 22 on the valve understood that the number of slots may be varied as desired, and that generally the construction of the casing may be varied so lon as it allows the Fuller ball to expand radially through a portion of its length, and aids the same to retain its normal shape.

The rubber cylinder or ball 15 and the washer 18 are centrally apertursd to receive the reduced end of the valve stem 16, and a nut 21 is screw-threaded on the inner end ofthe stem and forced against the washer 18 to retain the Fuller ball 15 against the'stop stem.

When the cock is operated to close the valve, the rubber ball or cylinder 15 is brought into engagement with the seat 23, as shown in Fig. l, and there is a tendency for the ball to spread outwardly or expand radially. The slitted portion of the protecting casing or shell expands radially to accommodate the expansion of the rubber ball and, of course, the radial expansion is greatest toward the valve seat end of the Fuller ball, and thus the pressure or strain exerted upon the ball when the valve is closed is properly distributed throughout the length of the ball, While, at the same time, the shell reinforces the rubber body and aids it to retain its normal shape and resiliency. As the end of the casing toward the seat end of the ball is slitted, it expands co-extensively with the Fuller ball and thus the valve seat end of the latter cannot be forced to spread over the edge of the casing. Thespring pressure of the fingers 2O permits expansion of the ball 15 each time the valve is seated and at the same time aids in returning the ball to its normal shape or diameter each time the valve is moved from its seat andthus the valve may set due to age without becoming enlarged at its end and the valve is still serviceable after this setting from age occurs.

What I claim is 1. An elastic Fuller ball having a radially expansible encircling member.

2. An elastic Fuller ball having a metallic encircling member adapted to expand radially.

3. An elastic Fuller ball having an encircling member adapted to expand radially, the degree of expansion Varying inversely as the distance away from the valve seat end of the ball.

4. An elastic Fuller ball having a metallic encirclin member slitted longitudinally to allow-ra ial expansion thereof.

5. An elastic Fuller ball having a metallic stem and bearing shell provided with a closed end and radially expansible sides to permit expansion of the ball.

6. An elastic Fuller ball having an encircling metallic casing slitted longitudinally at the valve seat end of the ball to permit the ball to expand radially.

7. An elastic Fuller ball having an encircling casing unbroken at the end of the ball opposite the valve seat end and slitted longitudinally toward the valve-seat end. 8. An elastic Fuller ball'with an encircling casing. unbroken and non-expansible at one end and having a plurality of fingers engaging the ball at the valve seat end and permitting radial expansion of said end;

9. In combination, an elastic Fuller ball, a shell about one end thereof comprising a cylindrical member slitted at one end and having an inturned flange, and a Washer at the end of the ball and within said cylindrical member.

10. In combination, an elastic Fuller ball, and a casing about one end thereof comprismg a cylindrical member slitted at one end to provide sprin fingers which permit radial expansion 0 the ball and aid iri returning the ball to its normal shape, said casing being retained on the ball by friction therebetween.

11. In combination, a valve stem having an abutment thereon, an elastic Fuller ball having a central bore adapted to receive said against said abutment, means for retaining the ball upon the stem, and a shell about one end of the Fuller ball and comprising a cylindrical member slitted at one end to provide sprin fingers which permit radial expansion of t 1e ball when it is forced to its seat.

12. A cap for inclosing a portion of an In testimony whereof I have hereunto set elastic valve, said cap having spaces formed 2 my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PHILIP MUELLER.

ELLS. 

